Ana Zalewska & Karolin Machova for Elle Turkey by Senol Altun

Layered for the winter, Ana Zalewska and Karolin Machova go out for a print filled outing in the December issue of Elle Turkey. Photographed by Senol Altun and styled by Melis Agazat, the fashionable duo wear furs, knits and matching blonde locks.

A few lines are not nearly enough to present the Armenian cultural heritage, but there are a couple of points i would like to mention. Being one of the native
peoples of these lands, Armenians have created many cultural monuments over the course of the centuries. Most of these monuments in (what is now) Turkish Republic (especially in its eastern parts) are in shabby condition. The term “cultural genocide” frequently used today applies well to the Armenian cultural heritage on the territory of Turkey. The official state has had an ill-disposed attitude towards these monuments: this is evidenced by the policy implemented with regard to them:
• Left without care, Armenian historical monuments dilapidated over time.
• The ownership of Armenian churches was transferred to the local Muslim population who use them as they wish.
• Citing the interests of the state as an excuse, historical monuments are destroyed, e.g. they are used as shooting targets during war games.
• Armenian churches are turned into mosques,
. and now used as background for fashion photography…

A few lines are not nearly enough to present the Armenian cultural heritage, but there are a couple of points i would like to mention. Being one of the native
peoples of these lands, Armenians have created many cultural monuments over the course of the centuries. Most of these monuments in (what is now) Turkish Republic (especially in its eastern parts) are in shabby condition. The term “cultural genocide” frequently used today applies well to the Armenian cultural heritage on the territory of Turkey. The official state has had an ill-disposed attitude towards these monuments: this is evidenced by the policy implemented with regard to them:
• Left without care, Armenian historical monuments dilapidated over time.
• The ownership of Armenian churches was transferred to the local Muslim population who use them as they wish.
• Citing the interests of the state as an excuse, historical monuments are destroyed, e.g. they are used as shooting targets during war games.
• Armenian churches are turned into mosques,
. and now used as background for fashion photography…

yeah…great job Stacey: by murderin people, occupyin their churches, leavin them in ruins and the mercy of nature and then using them as a background for some fashion show….and the civilized west simply “falls in love….”

i was enraged with your blog, Uliss, but after checking your blog, i see why you have made the above comment… ignorance has hit the roof…

A few lines are not nearly enough to present the Armenian cultural heritage, but there are a couple of points i would like to mention. Being one of the native
peoples of these lands, Armenians have created many cultural monuments over the course of the centuries. Most of these monuments in (what is now) Turkish Republic (especially in its eastern parts) are in shabby condition. The term “cultural genocide” frequently used today applies well to the Armenian cultural heritage on the territory of Turkey. The official state has had an ill-disposed attitude towards these monuments: this is evidenced by the policy implemented with regard to them:
• Left without care, Armenian historical monuments dilapidated over time.
• The ownership of Armenian churches was transferred to the local Muslim population who use them as they wish.
• Citing the interests of the state as an excuse, historical monuments are destroyed, e.g. they are used as shooting targets during war games.
• Armenian churches are turned into mosques,
. and now used as background for fashion photography…

THOSE OLD ABANDONED HISTORICAL BUILDINGS ARE ACTUALLY ARMENIAN CHURCHES, CHURCHES THE TURKS KILLED RAPED AND MASSACRED PEOPLE FROM ONLY 95 YEARS AGO. AS AN ARMENIAN I AM OFFENDED… I, AS AN ARMENIAN AM NOT ALLOWED TO GO THERE AND TAKE PHOTOS, THESE DISGUSTING PIGS NOT ONLY GO IN THERE, THEY PROUNCE AROUND AND TAKE PICS IN OUR CHURCHES ALL FOR THE NAME OF FASHION, FUCK TURKEY.

Turkey has old historical buildings??? You’d better read some books and learn history and know about Armenian Genocide.. How dare you reffere Armenian sacred and holy ruins of cities to that bloodsucker turkish.?? Shame on you..

Turkey has old historical buildings??? You’d better read some books and learn history and know about Armenian Genocide.. How dare you reffere Armenian sacred and holy ruins of cities to that bloodsucker turkish.?? Shame on you..

Turkey has old historical buildings??? You’d better read some books and learn history and know about Armenian Genocide.. How dare you reffere Armenian sacred and holy ruins of cities to that bloodsucker turkish.?? Shame on you..

dear whoever you are, these are not “abonded historical buildngs”. these are armenian churchs that have been ruined by turks during the armenian genocide!!!! you people should be ashamed of yourselves!!! YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, I RECOMMEND YOU TO GO AND READ SOME HISTORY BOOKS !!! THE ARMENIANS DO NOT BEG FOR JUSTICE, THEY FIGHT FOR ITT!!!!

Dear Couturemepink, it might look very artistic to you, but you should know that many historical buildings in Turkey were not abandoned, but rather the population that built and owned them was massacred and ethnically cleansed of their ancestral land. You are forgiven if you do not know the history, but imagine how would people feel if the photo shoot took place in an old “abandoned” synagogue in Poland or Germany

Ummm… nice clothes + pretty models. but would we want to see naomi campbell posing with a nice faux fur in a burned out synagogue somewhere ? or perhaps gisele posing in work clothes around the gates of auschwitz, “arbeit macht frei”? it sucks to politicize fashion but hello…(!) this venue still quite freshly represents the loss of an entire people. real people, the Armenians, who suffered and died atrocious deaths. pretty tasteless, in conclusion.

As the anonymous writer above says, “I didn’t even notice the clothes. I was too distracted by the beautiful setting”. ….These are the relics of the Armenian churches that have been brought to a state of neglect since the Turks drove out the Armenians in the genocide of 1915. Its ignorant and distasteful of the location manager to have chosen such a site, which only serves to take away the attention from the model, conjuring up images of muder and denial for those who know their history.

As the anonymous writer above says, “I didn’t even notice the clothes. I was too distracted by the beautiful setting”. ….These are the relics of the Armenian churches that have been brought to a state of neglect since the Turks drove out the Armenians in the genocide of 1915. Its ignorant and distasteful of the location manager to have chosen such a site, which only serves to take away the attention from the model, conjuring up images of muder and denial for those who know their history.

Ummm… nice clothes + pretty models. but would we want to see naomi campbell posing with a nice faux fur in a burned out synagogue somewhere ? or perhaps gisele posing in work clothes around the gates of auschwitz, “arbeit macht frei”? it sucks to politicize fashion but hello…(!) this venue still quite freshly represents the loss of an entire people. real people, the Armenians, who suffered and died atrocious deaths. pretty tasteless, in conclusion.

Ummm… nice clothes + pretty models. but would we want to see naomi campbell posing with a nice faux fur in a burned out synagogue somewhere ? or perhaps gisele posing in work clothes around the gates of auschwitz, “arbeit macht frei”? it sucks to politicize fashion but hello…(!) this venue still quite freshly represents the loss of an entire people. real people, the Armenians, who suffered and died atrocious deaths. pretty tasteless, in conclusion.

Ummm… nice clothes + pretty models. but would we want to see naomi campbell posing with a nice faux fur in a burned out synagogue somewhere ? or perhaps gisele posing in work clothes around the gates of auschwitz, “arbeit macht frei”? it sucks to politicize fashion but hello…(!) this venue still quite freshly represents the loss of an entire people. real people, the Armenians, who suffered and died atrocious deaths. pretty tasteless, in conclusion.

Why are those beautiful buildings in ruin? Because the Armenians who cared for them were driven out in 1915 by the Young Turk army of the Ottoman Empire.
Included in those people was my grandfather aged about 15 at the time with his Mother and Sister. They were force-marched South to the Syrian desert where his Mother and sister died en route. He buried them in the sand and escaped. He was left alone with no family, or home or possessions. He boarded a boat to Cyprus where my Father was eventually born, my Father moved to London where I was born and live. I am Paul Hampartsoumian. No-one can deny my history.
Ask anyone in America, Europe or the Middle East with a surname ending ‘ian’ how they came to be there and they will have a similar story.
To criticize these events in Turkey is a criminal offence in Turkey (today) and will egt you thrown in prison or worse (Hrant Dink)

Dear Paul,
I am Turkish and i dont know the whole and real story about Armenians since our history books are not serve enough to the reality same as other countries.So..please accept my personal appologize first, as i see it is necessary, and please believe that here in Turkey, there is so much people who defies to government about Hrant Dink murder and minority rights, yet not enough i agree.. I want to remind you all, people are not same thing with the government and their political issues. Armenians are our friends and we prefer to live in peace and friendly with them.
Love.

Dear Paul,
I am Turkish and i dont know the whole and real story about Armenians since our history books are not serve enough to the reality same as other countries.So..please accept my personal appologize first, as i see it is necessary, and please believe that here in Turkey, there is so much people who defies to government about Hrant Dink murder and minority rights, yet not enough i agree.. I want to remind you all, people are not same thing with the government and their political issues. Armenians are our friends and we prefer to live in peace and friendly with them.
Love.

im speechless!! the shooting is taken place in the old abandoned armenian capital Ani, the city of 1001 churches, of which few remain standing today and the rest are all destroyed by the turks in an unsucessful effort to wipe up all traces of armenian culture from western armenia…if only those ruins could speak up…

im speechless!! the shooting is taken place in the old abandoned armenian capital Ani, the city of 1001 churches, of which few remain standing today and the rest are all destroyed by the turks in an unsucessful effort to wipe up all traces of armenian culture from western armenia…if only those ruins could speak up…

im speechless!! the shooting is taken place in the old abandoned armenian capital Ani, the city of 1001 churches, of which few remain standing today and the rest are all destroyed by the turks in an unsucessful effort to wipe up all traces of armenian culture from western armenia…if only those ruins could speak up…

im speechless!! the shooting is taken place in the old abandoned armenian capital Ani, the city of 1001 churches, of which few remain standing today and the rest are all destroyed by the turks in an unsucessful effort to wipe up all traces of armenian culture from western armenia…if only those ruins could speak up…

Don’t you have any decency??? Those are Armenian churches in Ani, which you occupied, slaughtered all the people and now you don’t even let us repair our cultural heritage and instead you shit, pee and sometimes model in the ruins of our beautiful ancient capital city! Shame on you, ignorant Turks!!!

It is the most famous of all medieval Armenian capitals. The setting is everything, yet the fashion is completely out of place. It is like shooting a porn movie in Vatican. The blending doesn’t work. As one of my friends said, ignorance at it’s best!

Ironically, the website name is fashiongonerogue. Actually, this is a rogue-style fashion made by a rogue People – the Turks. How do they dare to organize such as show in the sacred churches of a People they bloodily slaughtered. Definitely not European, not civilized, definetely rogue barbarians. Boycott Turkey, Boycott fashiongonerogue.com

A few lines are not nearly enough to present the Armenian cultural heritage, but there are a couple of points i would like to mention. Being one of the native
peoples of these lands, Armenians have created many cultural monuments over the course of the centuries. Most of these monuments in (what is now) Turkish Republic (especially in its eastern parts) are in shabby condition. The term “cultural genocide” frequently used today applies well to the Armenian cultural heritage on the territory of Turkey. The official state has had an ill-disposed attitude towards these monuments: this is evidenced by the policy implemented with regard to them:
• Left without care, Armenian historical monuments dilapidated over time.
• The ownership of Armenian churches was transferred to the local Muslim population who use them as they wish.
• Citing the interests of the state as an excuse, historical monuments are destroyed, e.g. they are used as shooting targets during war games.
• Armenian churches are turned into mosques,
. and now used as background for fashion photography…

Though these are old Armenian churches, Armenian photographers are not even allowed to take pictures of these places or even to step on this land.
These old churches resemble the genocide of Armenians in 1915 and it’s so rude and impolite to use them as a background to a photosession.
What the magazine did is just immoral. Shame on them!

How turks dare to use our sacred churches as a fashion background…
“The Turks are a human cancer, a creeping agony in the flesh of the lands which they misgovern, rotting every fibre of life”
David Lloyd George Prime Minister of Great Britain (1916-22)

How turks dare to use our sacred churches as a fashion background…
“The Turks are a human cancer, a creeping agony in the flesh of the lands which they misgovern, rotting every fibre of life”
David Lloyd George Prime Minister of Great Britain (1916-22)

How turks dare to use our sacred churches as a fashion background…
“The Turks are a human cancer, a creeping agony in the flesh of the lands which they misgovern, rotting every fibre of life”
David Lloyd George Prime Minister of Great Britain (1916-22)

Oh, do not halt, my courser, where these corpses scattered lie!
Fly far away from graveyards, where white shades of dead men be.
I cannot bear, I tell thee, I cannot bear again
The death of my dear native land with anguished eyes to see!

Behold the landscape of the place in which I had my birth!
At sight of it my longing glance with tears grows moist and glows.
But yet I would not shed them; nay, do not pause or stay,
My steed, my steed of swiftest flight! My Aim no weakness knows.

SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS … SHAME ON YOU BARBARIAN TURKS …

In 1974 UNESCO reported that there were only 913 Armenian churches and monasteries left in Turkey after 1915. By 1974, 464 had been completely destroyed, 252 were in ruins and 197 required extensive restoration. The Yerevan based Research on Armenian Architecture (RAA) has done extensive research since then. The picture hasn’t improved since 1974…

if anyone looks at these pictures and not be distrubed that they were taken with abandoned churches in the back because the people were MURDERED and forced off their land, then that person is STUPID and SHALLOW, and doesn’t deserve anything good in life.

if anyone looks at these pictures and not be distrubed that they were taken with abandoned churches in the back because the people were MURDERED and forced off their land, then that person is STUPID and SHALLOW, and doesn’t deserve anything good in life.

if anyone looks at these pictures and not be distrubed that they were taken with abandoned churches in the back because the people were MURDERED and forced off their land, then that person is STUPID and SHALLOW, and doesn’t deserve anything good in life.

if anyone looks at these pictures and not be distrubed that they were taken with abandoned churches in the back because the people were MURDERED and forced off their land, then that person is STUPID and SHALLOW, and doesn’t deserve anything good in life.

I especially like the model in the long flowing red dress; it is evocative of the red blood flowing from the 1.5 million Armenians slaughtered by the Turks during the Armenian Genocide. To make this photo shoot really edgy, they should have hung an Armenian corps from the altar, or stuck a baby’s head on a stake at the entrance – now that would really sell some skirts; remember, its all about profit! The next time you want to use my/our churches for profit, please ask permission – just because those churches are in Turkish occupied Western Armenia does not mean that those churches belong to the Turks. In the meantime, please get your heroin whores off my property!

I especially like the model in the long flowing red dress; it is evocative of the red blood flowing from the 1.5 million Armenians slaughtered by the Turks during the Armenian Genocide. To make this photo shoot really edgy, they should have hung an Armenian corps from the altar, or stuck a baby’s head on a stake at the entrance – now that would really sell some skirts; remember, its all about profit! The next time you want to use my/our churches for profit, please ask permission – just because those churches are in Turkish occupied Western Armenia does not mean that those churches belong to the Turks. In the meantime, please get your heroin whores off my property!

I especially like the model in the long flowing red dress; it is evocative of the red blood flowing from the 1.5 million Armenians slaughtered by the Turks during the Armenian Genocide. To make this photo shoot really edgy, they should have hung an Armenian corps from the altar, or stuck a baby’s head on a stake at the entrance – now that would really sell some skirts; remember, its all about profit! The next time you want to use my/our churches for profit, please ask permission – just because those churches are in Turkish occupied Western Armenia does not mean that those churches belong to the Turks. In the meantime, please get your heroin whores off my property!

I especially like the model in the long flowing red dress; it is evocative of the red blood flowing from the 1.5 million Armenians slaughtered by the Turks during the Armenian Genocide. To make this photo shoot really edgy, they should have hung an Armenian corps from the altar, or stuck a baby’s head on a stake at the entrance – now that would really sell some skirts; remember, its all about profit! The next time you want to use my/our churches for profit, please ask permission – just because those churches are in Turkish occupied Western Armenia does not mean that those churches belong to the Turks. In the meantime, please get your heroin whores off my property!

From the ruins of these Armenian churches cries the blood of countless Armenians who were mercilessly slaughtered by the hand of the Turks. To see a photoshoot carried on these sacred grounds (yet forbidden to us Armenians) is just shocking! In this day & age, ignorance is no more an excuse…

From the ruins of these Armenian churches cries the blood of countless Armenians who were mercilessly slaughtered by the hand of the Turks. To see a photoshoot carried on these sacred grounds (yet forbidden to us Armenians) is just shocking! In this day & age, ignorance is no more an excuse…

From the ruins of these Armenian churches cries the blood of countless Armenians who were mercilessly slaughtered by the hand of the Turks. To see a photoshoot carried on these sacred grounds (yet forbidden to us Armenians) is just shocking! In this day & age, ignorance is no more an excuse…

I think it is ashamed for a magazine like “elle” to display picture in, out and around Armenian abadoned churches which are considered as holy worship places. Think what would happened if such photographes were taken in Turkey …….. I leave it to the imagination of the reader.

Turks are a nation of murderers! They slaughtered Christian population of their country, the Armenians, the Greeks and the Assyrians. They didn’t built their country but stole it from these nations by killing, rapping and robbing. These are the ruins of the city of Ani, the ancient capital of Armenia, a city that had 1000 churches. And now they shoot fashion models in the ruins of this city, where the walls of the buildings still bear the blood stains and the traces of the bullets. Go to Ani and see how the Turks, the nation of murderers are still neglecting and ruining these masterpieces of architecture. The Genocides of Armenians and the Genocide of the Greeks of Pontos will never be forgotten and Turkey will pay us all one day.

Turks are a nation of murderers! They slaughtered Christian population of their country, the Armenians, the Greeks and the Assyrians. They didn’t built their country but stole it from these nations by killing, rapping and robbing. These are the ruins of the city of Ani, the ancient capital of Armenia, a city that had 1000 churches. And now they shoot fashion models in the ruins of this city, where the walls of the buildings still bear the blood stains and the traces of the bullets. Go to Ani and see how the Turks, the nation of murderers are still neglecting and ruining these masterpieces of architecture. The Genocides of Armenians and the Genocide of the Greeks of Pontos will never be forgotten and Turkey will pay us all one day.

Turks are a nation of murderers! They slaughtered Christian population of their country, the Armenians, the Greeks and the Assyrians. They didn’t built their country but stole it from these nations by killing, rapping and robbing. These are the ruins of the city of Ani, the ancient capital of Armenia, a city that had 1000 churches. And now they shoot fashion models in the ruins of this city, where the walls of the buildings still bear the blood stains and the traces of the bullets. Go to Ani and see how the Turks, the nation of murderers are still neglecting and ruining these masterpieces of architecture. The Genocides of Armenians and the Genocide of the Greeks of Pontos will never be forgotten and Turkey will pay us all one day.

im hoping the armenians who post in here dont go overboard with their emotions and instead consider a different point in that if more armenians/tourists went and visited these churches, it would be more controversial for the Turkish government to let them crumble. rhetoric is an important key for genocide recognition; if we fill our statements with hate and anger, we will in the end be no better than the Turks who have gone centuries without being held accountable for their crimes against humanity.

im hoping the armenians who post in here dont go overboard with their emotions and instead consider a different point in that if more armenians/tourists went and visited these churches, it would be more controversial for the Turkish government to let them crumble. rhetoric is an important key for genocide recognition; if we fill our statements with hate and anger, we will in the end be no better than the Turks who have gone centuries without being held accountable for their crimes against humanity.

im hoping the armenians who post in here dont go overboard with their emotions and instead consider a different point in that if more armenians/tourists went and visited these churches, it would be more controversial for the Turkish government to let them crumble. rhetoric is an important key for genocide recognition; if we fill our statements with hate and anger, we will in the end be no better than the Turks who have gone centuries without being held accountable for their crimes against humanity.

These magnificent edifices were the prototypes, based on which West European churches’ architecture was copied and developed. Do you people realize what UNESCO and the rest of the “civilized” world is doing by NOT maintaining, preserving, and rehabilitating these jewels of Armenian history and culture? Well, in my humble opinion, the world is looking the other way, while the elements are destroying part of our human history, that belongs to all mankind. And we are interested in preserving endangered species? Are we for real?!

This shoot has haunted me from the moment I saw it in Elle magazine a few days ago. These buildings are so beautiful, but their dilapidation and ruin are testament to the attempt on the part of Turkish government and society to erase the memory of the Armenians who lived in what is modern Turkey for centuries prior to the arrival of any person speaking Turkish. As humans, however, we have to realize that the sort of racist hatred Armenians are exhibiting on these comment-filled pages is the exact sort of emotion that created an environment within which our grandparents were deported and massacred, an environment within which very similar things happened to the Pontian Greeks, and the environment that even today makes the word “Ermeni” something derogatory in Turkey. By mirroring this sort of hatred, we are making the world a worse place, not a better one. “An eye for and eye means the whole world will be blind,” Gandhi.

Although the recent photo shoot by Elle featuring the 5th century Ani ruin has been met with a lot of negativity by the Armenian Community, being Armenian myself, I find nothing degrading about my culture being appreciated by the Fashion Community Globally. Thanks Elle for recognizing the beauty of this historical architectural gem contributed by the Armenian people and bringing awareness to this vanishing structure. I thank the Turkish photographers involved for appreciating the beauty of this sacred site and bringing international awareness. Hopefully through cooperation and the appreciation for beauty we can save this vanishing landmark. ?

I’m sorry, but all I can say is that you are an uneducated imbecile. They didn’t take these photographs in front of these churches as a way to show their appreciation of “the beauty of this sacred site and bringing international awareness.” They did this to mock us Armenians. We as Armenians can not visit these ruins where our ancestors perished and died horrible deaths but these idiotic models and photographers can go take fashion photos? Do you not see something wrong with that? I think it is because of people like you that the Turkish government looks past the crimes they committed.

As an Armenian I am constantly ashamed of the diaspora of our people preaching “hate” and “judgment.” After reading this blog, 80% of it is confrontational and straight out ignorant. This photoshoot is about artistic appreciation of this Armenian architectural masterpieces that was built so magnificently that it withstood centuries of neglect. Just because the context is “fashion” doesn’t mean it should be offending to any Armenian. Fashion is an art form itself and the Ani ruin is as prominent a subject matter as the fashions featured. Just remember that change is brought about by compassion and awareness not intimidation by scaring the international community. If the Armenian here today on this blog care so much about this ruin, make an effort to educate the world through the positive attributes associated with this iconic sacred structure instead of the negative. Trust me, we can accomplish more awareness of the genocide through positive thinking.

Unlike the Auschwitz concentration camps which have been recognized by the international community for the atrocious acts against human life, the historical city of Ani in present day Turkey is NOT KNOWN ABOUT. This is not because Turkey “prohibits” it. If they really wanted to destroy everything, it doesn’t take alot to go bulldoze the churches down. They have had centuries to do it. THINK ABOUT IT!!! But, they left the structures alone for time to take its toll. Not allowing Armenia to tend them doesn’t mean they don’t respect the churches. They just don’t want to open a Pandoras box by letting us back on “their soil” because they know once such an action is taken, WE AS ARMENIANS WILL DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO DISGRACE THE TURKISH CULTURE!

The ruin sits there crumbling away decade after decade because we as Armenians don’t understand the meaning of diplomatic awareness. The Jews didn’t go around ranting “Fuckin stupid Turks. Lets go do the same to their Mosques.” Again when there is no awareness through cooperation and international brotherhood, sites like the Ani ruin will not be saved. We are the first culture to accept Christianity as the national culture for a people. We are acting like uneducated barbaric people with hated and malice in our hearts. How is that representative of Christianity?

Although the the Ani ruin is just as deserving of being recognized as another “Auschwitz,” it sadly IS NOT! So don’t blame some photographer recognizing the beauty of a structure as ART for not knowing. And unfortunately, sorry to burst your bubble but art is not only representative of beautiful things. Their are many artists during WW1 and WW2 for depicting the suffering of life and humanity. And that my friend is ART. This is artistic expression to me but art is in the eye of the beholder.

Mkristine3 churches r sacred places and NOT a place for cat walking
being “cool’ and “modern” is so NOT cool in this way, if ur REALLY trying to be modern do it in front of a mosque also and see how ur gonna be sentenced to DEATH!

Weird to see tall blond blue eyed models – too bad we Armenians can’t be using our historic sites for fashion backdrops and use models with Armenian NATURALLY huge dark eyes and dark thick tresses. Our daughter would be a knockout in those outfits.

Despicable, outrageous, and downright offensive! To use the historic setting of a city whose population met a bloody and barbaric end by the predecessors of the very people that currently occupy the land as a backdrop to a fashion photo shoot is obscenely disrespectful. It makes me absolutely livid! As do all those of you who know the story of the beautiful city of Ani – otherwise known as “the city of 1001 churches” – and yet support this atrocious use of its ruins. And to those of you who don’t: educate yourselves and don’t fall into the trap of thinking these relics of a great people belong to anyone but the Armenians – least of all the Turks.

A few lines are not nearly enough to present the Armenian cultural heritage, but there are a couple of points i would like to mention. Being one of the native
peoples of these lands, Armenians have created many cultural monuments over the course of the centuries. Most of these monuments in (what is now) Turkish Republic (especially in its eastern parts) are in shabby condition. The term “cultural genocide” frequently used today applies well to the Armenian cultural heritage on the territory of Turkey. The official state has had an ill-disposed attitude towards these monuments: this is evidenced by the policy implemented with regard to them:
• Left without care, Armenian historical monuments dilapidated over time.
• The ownership of Armenian churches was transferred to the local Muslim population who use them as they wish.
• Citing the interests of the state as an excuse, historical monuments are destroyed, e.g. they are used as shooting targets during war games.
• Armenian churches are turned into mosques,
. and now used as background for fashion photography…

A few lines are not nearly enough to present the Armenian cultural heritage, but there are a couple of points i would like to mention. Being one of the native
peoples of these lands, Armenians have created many cultural monuments over the course of the centuries. Most of these monuments in (what is now) Turkish Republic (especially in its eastern parts) are in shabby condition. The term “cultural genocide” frequently used today applies well to the Armenian cultural heritage on the territory of Turkey. The official state has had an ill-disposed attitude towards these monuments: this is evidenced by the policy implemented with regard to them:
• Left without care, Armenian historical monuments dilapidated over time.
• The ownership of Armenian churches was transferred to the local Muslim population who use them as they wish.
• Citing the interests of the state as an excuse, historical monuments are destroyed, e.g. they are used as shooting targets during war games.
• Armenian churches are turned into mosques,
. and now used as background for fashion photography…

The actions of “Elle Turkey” are horrific. This amount of ignorance towards the matter of Cultural Genocide is horrific. Does it not occur to corporations and companies like “Elle Turkey” that they are disrespecting not only a culture, but a religion. This is an insult not only to Armenians who protest daily over matters like these, yet to all Christians who have to be insulted by watching fashion models pose in destroyed churches with pictures of Disciples and Jesus Christ vandalized. Im sure if this was to take place in a mosque, or for vandalization to take place in a Mosque the entire Muslim world would be in SHOCK and huge sanctions would take place against Elle Turkey. If only pressure was put upon horrific events like these by Armenians and Christians around the world. The actions of “Elle Turkey” are horrific.

The actions of “Elle Turkey” are horrific. This amount of ignorance towards the matter of Cultural Genocide is horrific. Does it not occur to corporations and companies like “Elle Turkey” that they are disrespecting not only a culture, but a religion. This is an insult not only to Armenians who protest daily over matters like these, yet to all Christians who have to be insulted by watching fashion models pose in destroyed churches with pictures of Disciples and Jesus Christ vandalized. Im sure if this was to take place in a mosque, or for vandalization to take place in a Mosque the entire Muslim world would be in SHOCK and huge sanctions would take place against Elle Turkey. If only pressure was put upon horrific events like these by Armenians and Christians around the world. The actions of “Elle Turkey” are horrific.

The fact that this magazine has chosen to use sacred churches as a background to this photo-shoot upsets me. I would have liked to see those models respecting my culture and my religion. Instead of helping to restore the ruins, they chose to stomp on them while cameras flashed in front of them. Shame on those who enabled this (and I am not referring to Turkey here…what’s in the past is in the past. Harboring racist feelings toward Turkish people because of the Genocide is just as bad as what happened in 1915. It is that racism that led to the events of 1915, and we need to learn how to respect each other as human beings).

I would love to use ruined mosques as backdrops for a photo shoot; I wonder what the reaction will be. Have respect for human rights, at the very least. Wake up people. Learn about history, learn about the fact that Ani is the Armenian city of thousand churches. these are Armenian lands, these are Armenian churches, learn about the Armenian Genocide, and why these churches are the way they are….and why there is an outcry by Armenians today about photo shoots like these. First Turkey tries to eliminate us, then they take our lands, ruin our churches/turn them into mosques and stables…and now this. Go ahead, call it a simple photo shoot, an expression of art….. it is because you lack respect toward basic human rights!
Elle magazine, do your due diligence before publishing these types of photos, learn the facts first… This is NOT about hatred, this is about JUSTICE!!!

The photos are very disturbing.. Using historical monuments as background is not uncommon. However, when the monuments are not identified, and one of the commentators refers to them as “abandoned ruins”, the purpose of using them becomes obvious as political subterfuge. It’s part of the continuing effort of the Turkish government to deny the existence of a rich Armenian civilization long before their Mongol forefathers arrived on the scene.

Have any of you actually looked at the images??? They are a testament to the atrocious acts of Turkey and the irony of it is that is direct attempt of a Turkish photographer bringing life to our forgotten history. Look at the graffiti on the walls. You guys are offended by fashion models? These images are straight out showing the unjust acts of allowing such beautiful history sites to disappear. Thank you Elle for being a voice of a forgotten people and region. Thank you for bringing awareness through your media of what’s going on. Thank you.

Thank you Mkristine3..
As a Turkish, definetely I can say, these photographs are taken to upbear the Armenian culture and to mention their neglected situations..
Thank you for being reasonable and well intentioned.

Thank you Mkristine3..
As a Turkish, definetely I can say, these photographs are taken to upbear the Armenian culture and to mention their neglected situations..
Thank you for being reasonable and well intentioned.

Not only people ignore history but try desperetly to hide the shame behind it by destroying what is left of the most “thriving and solid civilization of its time in the whole world”: -THE ARMENIAN CHRISTIAN FAITH & CULTURE. Those remains are churches where people use to pray, yet where they have been coverdly massacred.
Those sacred places will remain “haunted” for eternity for the children of the responsible evil turks. And may God punish whoever use those “holy places” for this kind of
hidious fashion publicity !

Anna turks cannot create mosque ? read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%BCleymaniye_Mosque ….. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophiaand read its was greek ortodox church world biggest after became mosque like old armenian churches in Turkey ; ) anatolia today islamic land christianility deleted in anatolia 1900-1915 today churches mostly changed as a mosque some of them destroyed you see in pictures in here no live palace for christians a day we will kill all christians in the world they are kufar they believe disgusting christianity judaism including these are not religion. JUST REL?G?ON ?N THE WORLD ?SLAM. ?SLAM JUST TRUE WAY ALLAH-U AKBAR

Poor man…poor man…! There is one Allah and He doesn’t accept what you say. Even If one day you take the whole world, you cannot change the Truth.
Hatrate, killing is SIN for Allah ! Because everyone of us is equal in His eyes…! You won’t learn the truth…poor man…May be one day…

All of this is disgusting..the places in fotos don’t belong Turkey..they are Armenian…they don’t have any places for fotos and becoz are trying touse armenian places to look god…you all are disgusting..i hate Turkey….

This is a great photo shoot! even for the people that have posted ugly comments about it,fashion have nothing to do with the genocide issues. Itake this Elle issue like a very good way for people to see the way the turkish goverment is detroying the cultural heritage of the armenian people.

This is absolutely enraging…. and insulting to Christianity and to Armenians to use the ruins of holy churches as a backdrop for fashion.
History? any one??? or every one is pretending to be ignorant!
Shame on you ALL

this is realy sad. But then again what do you expect from these turks, whatever they have is either copied or stolen from other nations that leaved there. I think they don’t know the meaning of sacred or holly. They probably will use their mosques for fashion also what do they know!

Is there another country in the world that would have on its soil monuments and buildings over a thousand years old and let them fall into ruins.?
Oh, wait, this is Turkey whose people came into a land where the Armenians lived, and eventually emptied the land of its people by massacring a millon and a half Armenians , took their lands and all their possessions and are perpetuating the genocide by trying to obliterate any trace of the culture and civilization.and then brazenly attempt to convince the world that they did nothing.
The entire world knows what happened; only the generation of Turks who have been taught in schools by a government designed curriculum is ignorant. They live in a country under laws where speaking the truth is called “insulting Turkishness” and is punishable. Pity the Turks .

They should have done the shoot in their own country since “it’s so beautiful and such a nice place to visit”. They rant and rave about Turkey and what a great vacation spot it is… do your fashion shoots there, I’m sure you have plenty of places you can take photographs of your models, ask your visitors for advice.

They should have done the shoot in their own country since “it’s so beautiful and such a nice place to visit”. They rant and rave about Turkey and what a great vacation spot it is… do your fashion shoots there, I’m sure you have plenty of places you can take photographs of your models, ask your visitors for advice.

I desdain these pictures set up for the sake of fashion; I mean they complell a feeling of a deepening long-term impasse that is certainly meant to escalate between Armenians and Turks that are sending here a subliminal message……

It was tragic (and despicable) to see some of the classic monuments of Armenian Christian architecture being trivialised in a way that shows contempt both for the people that built them (who have suffered so terribly over the centuries) and for the faith which so many of us share with them.

this leaves me feeling really disgusted to the bare bone. The fact that such a rich and vibrant culture and it’s churches have been abandoned and burned by Muslim Turks with authority from the Turkish government, for CENTURIES, is now a place for pre-mature models to frolic is really a disgrace to TURKEY. Controversy is not the word AT ALL, but much more than that. This representation is not of their culture and Turkey seizes to amaze me on how far they will go to torture Armenians. A place which 99.9% of living Armenians have not ever seen because of the abandonment and refuge of Turks, is now being a backdrop for a fashion magazine? Now they show it to the world in this way? No humanity. Atleast, what everybody notices is the beautiful remains of this Grand City.

this leaves me feeling really disgusted to the bare bone. The fact that such a rich and vibrant culture and it’s churches have been abandoned and burned by Muslim Turks with authority from the Turkish government, for CENTURIES, is now a place for pre-mature models to frolic is really a disgrace to TURKEY. Controversy is not the word AT ALL, but much more than that. This representation is not of their culture and Turkey seizes to amaze me on how far they will go to torture Armenians. A place which 99.9% of living Armenians have not ever seen because of the abandonment and refuge of Turks, is now being a backdrop for a fashion magazine? Now they show it to the world in this way? No humanity. Atleast, what everybody notices is the beautiful remains of this Grand City.